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James Cagney is often overlooked as an action star who played gangsters. True enough.
But if you are looking for a Cagney flick that shows him in great breadth and depth in comedy and romance -you must see The Strawberry Blonde.
I adore Cagney -and will even watch a bad Cag flick because he is just so awesome. In the gangster flicks he is imcomparable. But catch me in the right mood, and I'll say that The Strawberry Blonde is just about the best film he ever made.
First of all, you have a great cast -Olivia de Havilland, Rita Hayworth, Jack Carson, Alan Hale Sr., George Tobias -who all play wonderful characters, flirts and scoundrels.
Then you have a fantastic, engaging screenplay by the famous Epstein brothers (who wrote clever dialogue for such classics as Casablanca) about turn-of-the-century life in New York.
Then, there is Cagney who will make you laugh, fall in love, and cry. The scenario is perhaps overused -a man falls in love with a society girl (Hayworth) whom he can never have, and rebounds in a marriage with a "plain" girl, played by de Havilland (who is anything but plain). Only after many trials and tribulations does he truly see the love and goodness in his marriage.
Sounds pretty serious, but it's a hilarious piece, with Cagney as the would-be suitor. A scene in a park where he is stuck with de Havilland when he would rather be with Hayworth, shows him at his best comedic flair, as a rude, pouting heartsick fellow. While Hayworth is giggling and flirting with another fellow behind some rocks in a silly, shallow exchange, de Havilland (with more substance than Cagney sees at the time) tries to engage him in conversations he will have no part of, then baits him with "advanced ideas" about women's rights. Needless to say, he is unimpressed, and the reactions are side splitting.
This film also is interesting because it shows the romance of which he was capable but rarely showed in his films. Cagney rarely kissed onscreen for more than a peck, finding mush embarrassing and counter to his screen image.
Here, he doesn't go much further, but finds other ways to express the romance and love in his heart to de Havilland. After a melodramatic turn, where he winds up in prison, he meets de Havilland in the park after his stint is up, and clutches her to him with a hug full of passion, desperation, love and sadness. It's the kind of embrace that happens between people in real life, and not often shown on film.
Finally, the music is wonderful, with songs like "Bill Bailey," "Let the Rest of the World Go By", "Meet Me in St. Louis, Louie," and "And the Band Played On." In fact, you get a few seconds of Cagney waltzing with Hayworth to "And the Band Played On." Not enough of Cagney's footwork is shown, but Lordy, could he dance!
Well, needless to say, you should see this The Strawberry Blonde.
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THE STRAWBERRY BLONDE is a forgotten masterpiece of the Hollywood of yesteryear. Through subtle,dreamy narrative and photography that reminds one of a long gone summer afternoon turning to autumn, Walsh follows Biff Grimes(Cagney in a nicely nuanced performance) and his journey from the spitoon to the clink to the altar. Haunting and unforgettable, a gentle,broadminded stunner about the games called society and marriage, and it's effects on the players who are fated to follow the rules of the game.Best Deals for Strawberry Blonde (1941)
I have heard nothing but positive comments about this movie. I loved it!! Bought it on VHS, sight unseen about 15 years ago, and I have watched a million times since then. Rita Hayworth is superb, James Cagney gives his best performance ever, Olivia DeHaviland shows us what every woman should be like, Alan Hale shows us his comical genius(far better than The Skipper) and even Jack Carson delivers his lines like no other. This movie is classic, beautiful, thought provoking and a great time. Ending it by signing the the title song makes it so whimsical. Please Warner Bros, please release this on DVD, my tape is wearing thin.Honest reviews on Strawberry Blonde (1941)
Set around 1910 in New York, James Cagney as dentist Biff Grimes comes to the conclusion that he's better off married to Olivia de Havilland (playing Amy) than he would have been if married to Rita Hayworth (as Virginia). Sweet on Hayworth from the start, he loses her to big shot contractor Jack Carson and marries de Havilland on the rebound. Before finding the straight and narrow, Cagney gets involved with one of Carson's schemes and takes the fall for him, going to prison for five years. When he gets out he sets up his dentistry practice with de Havilland right by his side. An emergency brings Carson to Cagney's office one day needing an extraction, and Cagney thinks first of giving him too much gas and doing away with him. But he then wakes up to the realization that de Havilland is best for him and merely yanks Carson's tooth with no gas at all.The movie is amusing and tender, and the two female principals seem to steal the picture from the ever-present Cagney. Both are excellent and Cagney is at his clowinish best as well. Raoul Walsh directed to perfection, and the script is much better than average. Hugely entertaining and delightful to watch.
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This is one of my all time favorite movies! Although the main character, Biff Grimes, is played by the wonderful James Cagney, I watch this movie just to see Olivia de Havilland. If Amy Lind was played by any other actress, her character would would probably seem one-demensional. The character of Amy has to be played by an actress who is able to be hilariously funny at one moment and hopelessly romantic at another. That's why I love watching Olivia de Havilland in this movie. de Havilland didn't always play roles quite like this. Yes, she was in light-hearted comedies, and Yes, she was in dramatic tear-jerkers. But this is one of the few movies where she had to do both at the same time (she's just soooo awesome)! She pulls this role off so well not to metion I think she looks the prettiest in this movie out of all of her films.The story of "The Strawberry Blonde" is about Biff Grimes (Cagney) who strives to be a dentist. He falls in love with Virginia Brush, the strawberry blonde (played by Rita Hayworth). The problem arises when Biff's buiness partner, Hugo (played by Jack Carson) also falls for Virginia. Biff doesn't see that Virginia only has eyes for... Hugo's money. He agrees to go on a double date, and there he meets Amy Lind, the beautiful red-head's girlfriend (played by the AMAZING Olivia de Havilland). So, without spoiling the movie for you, I'll say this: Biff marries Amy and they live happily ever after...or do they? To find out for yourself, see the movie!!
Besides the wonderfully talented cast I mentioned up about, the rest of the cast includes George Tobias as Biff's best friend, Alan Hale, Sr. as Biff's flirtin' Irish father, and Una O'Connor (with whom he flirts!)
I know you will enjoy this movie because of it's classic story, talented cast, and because it's so incredibly funny (but I still cry every time)!!!!!
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